-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Alaska officials have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block -- at least temporarily -- same-sex marriage from moving ahead in the state . A resolution could come as early as Friday .

A federal judge there last week had ordered gay and lesbian couples be allowed to apply for marriage licenses and to wed after a normal three-day waiting period . But everything is now on hold until the justices issue an order . If the state loses at the high court , same-sex marriage could begin at 11 a.m. local time Friday .

Alaska 's Department of Law said `` the state can not issue any marriage licenses until the stay is lifted . ''

Some couples had begun applying for marriage licenses as early as Monday and in at least some cases , couples were married when they were granted an expedited consideration .

The state then asked for a stay , saying it needs more time to file more detailed appeals to show its sovereign power to define marriage is being usurped by the courts . Officials , including the governor said waiting until the broader legal questions are resolved is best for all Alaskans .

`` Without a stay , the interim licensing of marriages contrary to Alaska law could easily lead to administrative chaos that will harm everyone 's interest in the orderly enforcement of domestic relations laws , '' said the state 's high court appeal .

But a number of same-sex couples cited a federal appeals court ruling last week that struck down bans in Nevada and Idaho as unconstitutional . That appeals court 's legal jurisdiction includes Alaska and other Western states .

The high court case is Parnell v. Hamby -LRB- 14A413 -RRB- .

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Alaska asked U.S. Supreme Court to block same-sex marriage for now

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Decision could come early as Friday

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Similar requests made by Idaho and Nevada last week following appeals court ruling